Tell us about yourself
Hello all! I am currently studying a Bachelor of Radiography and Medical Imaging (Honours). My current grade is 1st Dan and 2015 will be my 5th year of kendo.
How long have you been practicing Kendo and why did you begin?
2015 will mark my 5th year of kendo. I started kendo during my first week of uni in my first year.
I’ve always been a sporty person my whole life. I did swimming, long distance running, touch football and fencing. Coming to uni, I wanted to try something new. I remember walking around uni during my O week, the kendo people were so friendly and immediately it sparked an interest so I joined. Not once have I regretted joining USYD Kendo Club.
What do you like about Kendo and what do you get out of training?
Kendo is a sport where are trying to do better than last week, last year… Its a sport that doesn’t end with age. Its ongoing.
With training, I gain fitness, confidence and skills for life. With the club, I gain a sense of belonging and enjoyment. Kendo has shaped me to be a better person.
What is your best memory or experience from kendo?
My best (and worst) memory from kendo would have to be my first ever competition. It was the Unigames competition at the Gold Coast. I lost my first match in 5 seconds. To this day, I have never forgotten that moment. I didn’t sit down and cry, I wanted to be better. Since that match 4 years ago, I picked myself up and vowed to be better. I haven’t stopped training since.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given in kendo?Haha, this is a funny one. My coach once said ‘You can’t have a piece of meat without the sauce!’ In this case, it was analogous to my kendo. Something was missing in my kendo. Since then, I’ve been training every week to execute the perfect ‘sauce’. It will be a never ending journey which I will be looking forward to in my life.
Is there anything else you would like to say about your Kendo experience?Kendo isn’t something you can master in one day. It has bought me on a never ending journey. I always look forward to what the future has to bring for me.
I have also met some of the greatest people in my life right now. Meeting the many people of all ages in the club and listening to their stories, there is still a whole world out there to experience and this is just one of the steps in my journey of life.
